Nicklaus Design has been chosen to design a selection of holes for TGL presented by SoFi, the new tech-infused team golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports.
TGL’s innovative competition, set to debut on January 7 on ESPN, will introduce a mixed-reality format. Using a giant simulator screen, players will showcase their skills by hitting long shots on virtual holes.
They will then transition to making chip-and-putt shots onto an actual green that can rotate 360 degrees and change topography, providing a dynamic and challenging experience.
A lot of effort went into designing the virtual holes as well.
TGL presented by SoFi, features 6 teams of the world’s top PGA TOUR talent competing in a season-long, fast-paced competition that brings golf to a prime-time stage.
TGL’s home will be the custom-built SoFi Center, a 250,000 square foot, tech-infused venue on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Nicklaus Design’s Chad Goetz said
“Throughout the process, I focused on variety, the importance of strategic decision-making and the creation of bold, entertaining shots.
All of us at Nicklaus Design are very proud to be a part of this new exciting golf competition, and we cannot wait to see how these world class players decide to play these unique holes.”
Over the past five years, Nicklaus Design‘s in-house digital production team has been dedicated to crafting captivating golf courses for TGL’s esteemed technology partner, Full Swing Golf.
Their efforts have included several breathtaking courses, including Quivira, Muirfield Village, and Great Northern, on the platform.
“Bluebonnet” | Par 4 – 450/343 yards
Welcome to the Texas Hill Country. Depending on the tee box, Bluebonnet either plays as a risk-reward drivable par-4 or a challenging long par-4. Playing the long par-4, teams will need to decide how much of the canyon to try and bite off.
Those who challenge the canyon edge will be rewarded with a shorter approach on a more receptive angle to this elevated green. Any slight miscalculation here will be very penal.
Standing on the tee of the short par-4, teams will again have to make a decision. A successful bold carry over the canyon will find a slope that feeds shots towards the green.
More conservative play out to the left will still require precision to find the shallow fairway and a delicate pitch up the hill to the green over the front bunker.
“Cliffhanger” | Par 3 – 251 yards
This par-3 plays over an ocean cove to a green set back in the rocks and cypress trees of the Northern California coastline.
Cliffhanger is intended to be played as a very long par-3, but it can also be played from various distances.
As the hole shortens in length, the angles into the green become more complex. No matter what tee is selected, strong ocean winds from the right will make it a challenge.